Carina Edel
PhD student
Orthoptera are the largest non-holometabolous insect group with a chewing-biting mechanism of feeding. In my PhD project, I will focus on the head shape disparity of Orthoptera to determine which ecological and mechanical factors might have influenced their radiation. For this I will be looking at ~ 400 µCT-Scans of different Orthoptera heads, covering nearly all subfamilies. Shape disparity will be analysed using 3D geometric morphometrics of their head-shape. The mechanical influence of feeding habits will be determined by looking at the mandible mechanical advantage as well as finite-element-analysis.
